Unions sign wage deal

Johannesburg - Unions in the metal and engineering sector, including Numsa and Solidarity, signed a wage agreement with an employer body on Tuesday.

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA (Seifsa) agreed to a three-year deal with the unions. Workers would get increases of between 8 - 10%, depending on whether they were high or low earners.

The National Employers' Association of SA declined to sign the agreement until its demands had been addressed.

Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council president Victor Radebe called for all parties to reach consensus.

Labour brokers

To those who had signed the agreement, Radebe said: "Now that we have reached this agreement, it is up to you to protect it and uphold it."

Over 200 000 National Union of Metalworkers of SA members in the metal and engineering sectors downed tools on July 1, demanding a salary increase of 12%, down from their pre-strike demand of 15%. They also demanded a R1 000 housing allowance and a total ban on labour brokers.

The union announced on July 13 that it had lowered its wage demand to 10%.

The labour department and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration facilitated talks between Seifsa and unions earlier this month after negotiations between the parties had deadlocked.